Thoughts on deconstructing, renewing and embracing the qualities (quirks, oddities, imperfections) that make us other-worldly BEAUTIFUL. Includes weekly mentions of the reigning Queen of Other, Kristen Stewart. Perhaps once we shatter the old ideas of beauty, then the need to alienate, segregate and tear down Others will disappear entirely.

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Hello dear ones! Happy Thursday! I had fully intended on writing a full-fledged Musings for today, but I couldn’t properly gather the thoughts that I wanted to do so, but know that I have enough material for a full MOO to post on or around this weekend…including a new Featured Rebel. So today’s Muselet will feature a couple of odds and ends and announcements, perhaps a fleeting thought or two on the recent Vanity Fair madness, and the surge of Water For Elephant promotions. *Excuse me while I…THUD*

Hyperventilating aside, we need to kick-off Birthday Season..

Today, for instance, is my talented hubs’ birthday. And because he has tolerated my impulsiveness and loquaciousness with grace and (most times) patience…

And contributed his stunning personal photography to support my dabbling into small-business owning and to Musings even if he didn’t quite understand…and also so that @Buff could work her magic….so much love and gratitude for my IndoGuy…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, N!

And, because March is an awesome month and PISCES are soul mates of mine, my beloved soul sister and Team Other Co-Captain Cynically Convy, creator and author of the brilliant and fast-becoming legendaryKStew Is Better Than You has a birthday as well! Tomorrow, March 4 !! If you aren’t reading CC’s outrageously funny and intelligent posts championing our Other Queen Kristen, or in CC’s words, HER ROYAL HOTNESS , then I don’t know how you’ve made it through your boring days thus far, and frankly, I’m not quite sure how we’re friends. A lot of MOO’s readers are concurrent KSIBTU readers as well. Hell, I think most of you, who didn’t already know me through my Cyber Sisters & Readers, found me because of CC’s support and promotion of Musings. Basically, Musings would NOT exist in its current incarnation if it weren’t for CC. Please go give my sister some love and send some birthday wishes. She’s been under the weather this week, and your greetings will only brighten her day and boost her immune system (and I know a little something about poor immune systems *cough* Typhoid *cough*).

CC, I love you and adore you madly. Each week I find myself bowing down to your genius, yearning for a tenth of your wit and maybe an ounce or two of your coloring skilllllz. This exclusive Moo Artwork was completed while I was at a pizza parlor. Snow White is very significant, yes??

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CC!

Other birthdays approaching? Well, The Queen herself, our regal Ambassador of Other, Kristen Stewart, celebrates her twenty-first birthday next month, on April ninth, and Mr Robert Pattinson celebrates the start of his twenty-fifth year in May. Celebrations ahead, my friends. My husband’s and my dear friend CC’s are just the beginning. If you want to send your wishes to Kristen for her birthday next month, I suggest contributing your thoughts and love to TEAM KRISTEN SITE’S BIRTHDAY PROJECT!

Well, so what other topics did I hope to mention today? Well, there is always this insanity:

Like it or not, you know the man has mad charisma when he can pull off the ‘come hither’ look with a big lizard around his neck. Um, I’m not even looking at his neck. Just sayin. The legendary Annie Leibovitz photographed this shoot which accompanies an interview that depicted a more somber and somewhat overwhelmed-sounding Rob. I do not care for and am growing MORE irritated with the interviewer of this article with every new agenda-driven TV interview she gives. However, some of Rob’s answers hint at the long-term effects of isolation and overzealous “fans” including difficulty concentrating and writing, exhaustion and a penchant for taking solace in salty-sweet snacks such as chocolate-covered pretzels. (Don’t judge. Those things are BOMB and offer sweet, sweet relief). He calls out his stalkers, the window-bangers and riot-starters and even encouraged his lawyers to sue the girls who hacked into his email accounts. But, with his wistfulness for quiet and anonymity comes also his steadfast admiration for his colleague and partner in crime, Kristen Stewart, saying,

“I think she’s really good. There are very few girls in her class that are as good as she is.”

I need to re-read the article another few times before I can shove away the melancholy cloud that fell over me when I first read. And I am annoyed by the motivation the VF reporter seemed to carry while interviewing Mr Pattinson. To me, she projected a vibe that I can’t shake that indicates non-support of either Rob or Kristen. But the pictures sans Pilgrim Hat but added musical instruments and cigarettes…well, they’re quite lovely.

Maybe I’ll talk more about this article in the full-fledged Musings I hope to write this weekend, we’ll see. I did definitely have some reactions, though. But this morning’s on-air phone interview between Rob and Ryan Seacrest provided a jovial, charming and laughing Flippy that far succeeds any printed article or biased journalist’s interpretation. It was nice to hear his laughter and lightness again. And I tell ya, I’m gonna LOVE the Water for Elephants press circuit.

Soooo, I’ll wrap up today’s Muselet for now by letting you know that Part 2 of the MOO Mish is underway. I’ve sent over greetings and samples of Musings but also my personal Sacred Contract directly to our Other Queen Kristen and her closest people including the Goddess Ruth and Kristen’s personal assistant and security blanket John. I let them know that when Kristen is ready to implement her own Life’s Work and Fair Philanthropy, that I am on board and have the means and capacity to assist her in her vision.

In the meantime, I’m here, rambling, and supporting and encouraging all of us Others to continue to pursue Bliss and embrace Otherness. You all continue to astound me with your bravery and willingness to be candid and honest. Some of the emails and comments I’ve received re: your Firsts have been heartbreaking and also so inspiring. KEEP GOING!!! Thanks for visiting the Sentence Completion portion of the About KJ page and revisiting some of your Firsts, the good, bad and brilliant…Thanks also for checking out the Resources for Beauty page as well. There is much to add still. Always. I’ll see you in a couple days, my Lovelies. xo, KJ

A/N: Thank you to everyone who read and commented the past two postings, you all continue to humble and stun me. I am a complete fail in replies lately, and I apologize. I will make it up to you today (at least, I think it’s a lovely compromise…more on The Giveaway momentarily). Also, I’m posting late today, later than I hoped anyway, because it has been an epic battle between myself and the formatting system of WP. I’ll give the benefit of the doubt today because it’s Christmas, and because I know that the pictures in this essay are out of this world, and maybe this site simply cannot handle it…?

Soooooo Happy Christmas Eve Eve, to all who celebrate it, and Happy Winter and end-of-year-goodness to us all. Some of us are digging ourselves out of sky-high snow banks or rowing boats down our streets in response to the copious rainfall at this time. There was only one time in memory in which my streets in my hometown actually, truly flooded and that was when I was maybe 17 years old and the flood control channels had collapsed under the weight of too much rain too fast. Californians, as laid back as we are, uh, we don’t do so well in rainy conditions, let alone floods. My very metropolitan hometown literally shut down and ceased working because people had no idea how to drive or move through flood water. So my brother hopped on his surfboard and paddled through the neighborhood scoping out routes in case of evacuation. It was surreal watching him paddle down our street in chest-high waters.

I grew up in a beach city. This wasn't at all an unusual vision. Not gonna lie, it didn't suck.

Anyhoo. Just a moment of reminiscing there. Which is what today’s Musings will be about. Today is a fond stroll in recollection, collaboration and perspective, like last week. I have decided not to do the Kristen Retrospective just yet, and instead am going to do something a teeeensy bit different: An awe-filled “roundtable” reminiscing and bonding with fellow Others.

Side note: People are so freaking talented. This pic was posted in kiarolina81‘s photos. I found it by googling “Christmas and Kristen Stewart images”.

Oh!! And we have another Giveaway! I’m so cracka-lacka excited about it, I can barely contain myself. Not even sure how to hold it together till the end but I hope to entice you with today’s contents…It’s the end of the year, it’s the season of giving and collaboration and L-O-V-E. I want to share (since Sharing IS Caring) with you all the workings of the most incredible women I have the pleasure of knowing and working with: Team Other.

Musings On Other, aka MOO– Buff and I snicker and make silly jokes of the cow variety whenever we can–is possible because I have an amazing team of ladies who support and prettify my ramblings…You lovelies and O.G. Musings Readers know that Bouffant (A Cyber Sister) and CC (KSIBTU) are the two beautiful ladies who encouraged me to step out and say hello to this crazy-beautiful fandom on Day One by publishing the very first essay on Unconventional Beauty and Royal Rebels: Molly Ringwald, Kristen and Me. And Buff, because she’s generous, kind and probably pitied me, volunteered to design a banner for my “Kristen Support Project” after I wrote her an email asking her advice on how to create an interesting ‘look’. Because these ladies have been such an essential part of Musings and my journey towards Bliss and supporting Kristen, I am giving myself the gift of conversation, reminiscing, Otherness and KStew to commemorate this First MOO Christmas. Below you’ll find the candid Musings of my fellow Team Other Captains (Bouffant, CC and Buff), recipients of my utmost gratitude and adoration….I answer some questions, but you all have already heard some of my answers either in an essay or from the incarnations of the About KJ Page.

MUSINGS ON OTHER, WITH OTHERS

Stunned? Yeah me too. Alas, it's a picture of Queen Kristen...Musing. The first of many Buff & N Collabs. Wait till you see the Giveaway.

MUSINGS ON THE FANDOM:

Q: When did you realize you had become a member/involved in the Twi/Kristen/Robert Fandom?

Bouffant**I’m pretty sure someone chloroformed me, as I cannot recall how it all happened.

CC## I guess I realized I was a member when I received my members only jacket, quite like the one Rob has. Kidding! I guess it’s when I got an influx of emails literally the day after I posted my first post. And then people were so gracious and generous in responding to my mindless ramblings. I was in awe of the reaction. So I guess I gained some readers… and they were involved… and then we became forever involved together—like one big polygamous involvement.

Buff :::I didn’t really consider myself at all in the fandom until I started writing fan fiction. If anything, I would have said I was a heavy lurker. But looking back I was enthralled for sure with the Twi world and Kristen and Rob.

KJ<>I was a supporter and reader of the books since Summer 2008. But I think I realized how deep I was when I was in Indonesia traveling to see one of the Seven Wonders of The World last summer. And while I was climbing Buddhist temples or presented with a view of paradise, I still kept checking around for a WiFi connection to see if there were any Kristen or Rob news. Seriously.

Q: What was it that first drew you to Kristen, Rob and/or Twilight?

Bouffant** The twinkle in Cedric Diggory’s eye? The cut of his robes? The way he cast a spell? I just knew Rob had ‘it’, and I’d see him again. Note: I am always right.

I was drawn to Kristen by her demeanor in the Twilight promo. I liked that she was thoughtful and earnest in interviews, but didn’t take herself seriously. There was (is) nothing false about her.

My nieces drew me to Twilight. Although if Rob and Kristen weren’t in the movies, I’m sure I would not have seen more than the first, and perhaps not even that one.

CC## Have you seen how pretty? That’s what. I looked at a picture on my TV of Vanity Fair (THE Vanity Fair) and I thought—fuck—they are too hot for their own good. Throw in a little google and the issue of In Style in 2008 and I was addicted.

Buff::: The pretty. No. seriously. I hadn’t read the books yet but kept seeing those damned commercials, and I remember thinking they were both ridiculously good looking.

KJ<> Would THIS be the pretty you’re referring to? Yes. I recall it well.

Q: When you first heard Rob Pattinson’s singing voice….you..…?

Bouffant** Did the aural equivalent of a double-take.

CC# Came? Yes I did.

Buff::: had an orgasm. Can I say that? Actually I had terrible writers block in the middle of writing Eclipsed Heart and I decided to try listening to music while I wrote – I usually needed silence to concentrate, ask my hubs he hated me when I was writing. But I thought I’d give it a go and I downloaded a bunch of his songs before I had ever listened to them, so I played those and after I pulled myself from the puddle of goo I had become the words literally flew out of my head. So his voice was a definite muse for me.

CC## SHUT UP. IF BUFF’S ANSWER ISN’T CATHY WE AREN’T FRIENDS ANY MORE. Obviously Catherine. She nurtured the relationship that we fell in love with. It’s the reason we love the Saga.

Buff::: Cathy

KJ<> uh. #TeamChattyCathy here.

Q: How has being apart of this fandom changed you?

Bouffant** I vacillate between feeling like a kid again and feeling as old and wise as Carlisle Cullen. It’s a little dizzying, to be honest… but not so bad

CC##I get the most incredible emails from people all over the world. I love it. Even if we talk only once, I love that people take the time to say hello. I have also sincerely gained some friends for life. I am such a shy person by nature—meaning I don’t like to talk to people I don’t know face to face. So all of these girls come out of nowhere and email me and we develop these relationships that surpass this ‘fandom’ and it’s real. Whereas R/K used to be our focus, it’s all very secondary now.

I care about Jamie’s niece being premature and whether or not Iris was going to get to adopt Bo. They are some of my best friends and I can’t even explain how important they are to me. My faith in humanity has been restored tenfold. Also, I spend a lot less time with normal humans because I am looking at pictures and jotting down my thoughts.

Buff::: I don’t know that its changed me. I am an introvert by nature, so if you threw all of us into a room I wouldn’t speak half (any) of the shit I tweet, write, etc. But its easier to be out going this way. One thing I have gained is more confidence in my writing. OH! Duh! AND, I learned how to use photoshop.

Q: Who in your personal/3D/Real-life knows your level of involvement in the fandom? *Big Grin*

CC## I consider my KSIBTU girls and bloggie bffs my real life. They all know. The people in my life before then? They have an idea that I like Kristen, but that’s it. It’s not a secret—they just don’t care. I’m sort of glad because I don’t want them to ruin it. I just want one thing to belong to me. I want to keep one thing sacred, and it is. I love the friends I’ve made through this experience. Honest to God, I’m so lucky.

KJ<> I’m slowly but surely merging my 3D world with my Cyberworld/KStew/Rob/ Twi world. Outside of my Cyber Sisters and you lovely KSIBTU Girls, N knows, but doesn’t read MOO. My brother knows I write a little and admire Kristen, but his knowledge is only to an extent. My SIL Puss and my dear friend Kathryn are probably the two people in my pre-Musings world who are most aware of my involvement. They don’t judge. They join me on my quest to learn more about Kristen and Otherness, and the Featured Royal Rebels with me each week.

OUR REIGNING OTHER QUEEN:

Q: Favorite KStew movie ?

Bouffant** The Runaways

CC## Easiest question ever! #LisaPForever

Buff::: Hmmmm… I’d probably have to say Adventureland because I love that movie. But there are still KStew movies I haven’t seen (I know – for shame) So I’m going to say the jury’s still out on my fav KStew movie.

Verbal: “I think it’s funny that when I go onstage to accept an award, they think I’m nervous, uncomfortable, and awkward—and I am—but those are bad words for them.”.

Non-verbal: The double-finger salute to the paps in Australia.

CC## It’s a tie between, “I feel very faithful to truth and I think when people are afraid of that, they’d rather try and feign cynicism and experience. I am not cynical but I am not naïve either. I take things for what they are,” and

“sincerity seems to be a problem today, but I prefer to be hated than be false and fool people.” She is wise beyond her years. She says what she means and she means what she says, otherwise she wouldn’t bother saying it. I appreciate that. She’s not blowing hot air.

Buff::: They’re bullets, Mofo!

KJ<> I love the quote that Bouffant picked out. So much. I also love THIS (OHai, JHiggs, my love!):

Buff:::I do not consider myself a fashionista by any means so I always hesitate to give my opinion on this. I can tell you what I think was pretty, weather that deems it fashionable I can’t qualify. My favorite fancy KStew look from this year is Letterman KStew, and the Eclipse LA premier because the cut of that dress? x_x Wowza.

Last 3 songs listened to on my iPod: The last three songs on Come Around Sundown

When I was 8 years old, I was good at… Successful use of Clackers without putting an eye out, counting stars, riding my bike to the top of the hill

CC##

Favorite Holiday Movie: Love Actually

Favorite Christmas/Hanukkah Food: I don’t have a specific favorite Christmas food. I love it all. The pasta course is probably my favorite because my aunt makes the best sauce. We also have these stuffed breads that are ridiculous. And Chanukah? LATKES FOREVERRRRRR. With applesauce, please!

Number of Homes I’ve lived in: 8

Three Random Facts about Me: 1. I never wear the color red; 2. I interned at the United Nations while I was in College and one day got the chance to go bowling in the White House. Swear. I have pictures!; 3. I hate carrots.

Fan Fic that OWNS me right now: Ohhhhh KJ what a loaded question. I struggle with ff. I hate almost every story I’ve ever read, due largely in part to the ending. I also hate when people are in the midst of a juicy lemon and scream ‘IIIIII LOOOOVEEEE YOUUUUUU’ as they climax. Hey, have you ever had sex? DO YOU SCREAM THAT OUT? NO. YOU DO NOT. If the man is making you see stars, and I hope he is, you don’t talk!!!!! I also hate stories that are hardcore and then turn into fluffy bullshit after they say ‘I love you’. STOP. Love doesn’t make you brain dead and it doesn’t change who you are. Give it to me hard.So what owns me? These 4 fics are the best of the best right now, IMO. 1.) A Pound of Flesh. She is brilliant. It’s not some mushy pussy fest. It’s hot. It’s erotic, and I love this Edward. One word: peaches. UNF. 2.) True Love Way. It updates daily and it’s so poetic I want to sing. I think that TeamBella is a gift from God. Her stories will break you in the best way. Her fic Closer (and its sequel California Waiting) are two of my favorite stories ever written. 3.) The Cullen Campaign. It’s smart and sassy. And once again, it’s not lame. 4.) Dead on my Feet. It’s hard. It’s real. As someone who has seen a sick young person for so many years… I appreciate the honesty of it all, and the writer doesn’t fuck around.

from SimplyKristen's Tumblr

Buff:::

Favorite Holiday Movie: White Christmas because its a classic. Elf is a close second becasue smiling is my favorite. 🙂

My wrists are double jointed – I think – I can turn my hands almost all the way around.

2. I wanted to be a veterinarian for years until I found out it consisted of more than just playing with puppies all day. 3. I used to score from midfield. (That’s what she said.) No, get your mind out of the gutter….goals. I was a sweeper with a big kick

Fan Fic that OWNS me right now: Ugh. Yesterday I would have said TLW, which is awesome, but then I read The Plan and it is genius.

Last 3 Songs listened to on my iPod: Check the Musings playlist. Mostly Christmas, though ALL inspiring with a dash of Stevie Wonder, Joan Jett and John Lennon.

Number of Homes I’ve lived in: 12

Three Random Facts About Me: 1. I have dislocated both knees at least 3 times apiece. 2. I leave caps off of any bottles I open. Lots of spills in the house. 3. I am a recorded singer on a movie soundtrack.

Fan Fic that OWNS me right now: Whoa there. Don’t get me started on FF. But since it was my question…here’s what I’ll say. 1. The Righteous and Wicked– oh fuck. As I my Sister Readers can confirm, as can @takemetobliss & @kate_suena, keep a snack or some smokes nearby for instant oral gratification while reading it. Just do it. UNF. 2. A Pound Of Flesh-I am somewhat in LOVE with Edward in this one. Ok, TOTALLY in LOVE with him. He’s one sexy mofo. 3. Full Disclosure–falling in emo love…my friend @MissBettySmith takes you there. 4. Starry Eyed Inside — I will read anything written by Rochelle Allison. She is poetry. 5. Tunes with Tony Masen is climbing up there. Different, intelligent, part mystery, part adventure, ALL unresolved sexual tension.

Musings On Other:

Q: How do you see Kristen embodying her Otherness?

Bouffant** I have never witnessed a young woman so steadfastly withstand an onslaught of energetic opinion and judgment (pretty much all of which ultimately has little to do with her by the way) and remain confident… and, at the same time, humble. Being inside herself, and having (because of her youth) somewhat limited life experience, she probably does not realize how inspiring that is.

CC## Kristen is unapologetic and authentic. She owns everything she does, and that is a lot more than most of us can say right now.

Buff::: Her honesty. That’s the simplest way to put it. She is honest in her words and actions no matter what the popular opinion, and I admire that.

Q: One word or phrase that describes the Other Beauties at this “roundtable”

CC## I am me. This is who I am. Take it or leave it. I love myself (most days), and that’s not an easy thing to do.

Buff::: I do my best to hold my confidence and not let outside pressure sway me.

KJ<>I would accept the homecoming queen nomination if it were offered to me today, instead of decline it and slink away as I did over a decade ago. That’s a HUGE concession.

HOLIDAY MOO MASHUP GIVEAWAY

Ok so I seriously was debating on keeping these prints to myself because I can’t stop staring. But I want to share them with you lovely Readers because you all appreciate and support our Reigning Other Queen Kristen, as well as the pursuit of Bliss and Creativity. Also, you, like me, think that Kristen is Royalty, and that Buff and N (my husband) are a geniuses with what they do (this means they’re both artistically gifted and they both tolerate me. Takes a lot of patience and goodness to do both). And you know what? I agree. So without further ado…Here are the first ever Musings On Other Photo Prints featuring the Blissful collaboration between my lovely, insanely talented husband N and his photography and the brilliant and PATIENT photo editor and visionary, Buff82. Collaborating in the name of Perspective, Bliss and Otherness.

Dude. I know. I KNOOOOWWW. Have you collapsed in utter (or udder#MOOHumor courtesy of Buff) astonishment? When Buff first sent me the proofs, I burst into tears. N looked over at me and then the laptop and said, “Wow.” About his own work! But also because he clearly admires, as do I, the way that Buff took these pictures and made them transcend. A cool piece of knowledge: there are more where these came from. I have at least three other MOO MASHUPS (Buff & N Collabs) to share with you. We’ll see the other Mashups in the next few weeks. I have to share them. I MUST.

Here’s how you become eligible to choose 1 of these 3 photography prints (8×10, matted)…Just pick at least 3 of the questions that Team Other answered above and give your own answers in the comment section below! Easy! You can tell me what you thought when you heard Rob’s singing for the first time, or what your favorite KStew Steeze moment was. Or you can share how you’re spending these holidays, or how you’ve embraced Other in your own life…The possibilities are endless!

I have truly, truly enjoyed having the conversations with Bouffant, CC and Buff resulting in the candid and wonderfully honest answers above, and I look forward to hearing YOUR Musings On Other too. Until next week, take care of yourselves, continue to seek and celebrate yours and OTHERS’ Unconventional Beauty. Stay safe and enjoy your time with your beloveds during this holiday weekend…. Always Yours, KJ

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

WE ARE OTHER.

KRISTEN IS OTHER.

OTHERS KNOW THAT UNCONVENTIONAL IS BEAUTIFUL.

EMBRACE YOUR OTHER.

A/N: I’ll announce 2 winners for the Giveaway next week. Winners have their choice of one of the three prints featured above.

*Give some lovin to Buff at her Twitter @Buff_82 and/or N via email: Kinophotography@gmail.com for their blissful collaboration.

*Thanks for holding the space for Bouffant, Buff, CC and I to jabber about the great things in this world–ice cream, Chatty Cathy and Kristen Stewart. *Let @Bouffant00, @Buff_82 and @Kstewsbtrthanu know if you reacted to their Musings on Twitter…

Yes I know. It stings a bit. There is an emptiness and an ache during these Kristen-less days. The last public sighting we have of Kristen is from the bowling alley and that quirky-cool man’s reference to Kristen as “that punky chick from Twilight“.Thank the Goddess for these newly released EW outtakes (outtake because there is just too much Pretty?)

and peeps say she doesn’t smile. pffft.

Also thank The Goddess again for the soothing (at least for me, anyway) knowledge that Kristen is not on the streets dodging Vulture-Papz because instead she’s safely ensconced and immersed in her current job: filming On the Road. I am so pleased to know that Kristen is submerged in a new role, and it’s just an added bonus that the role is of one of the fair and feisty Marylou in the Kerouac classic. Filming began on Monday in beautiful Montreal, and word on the street is that these first days dive into some of the grittiest moments between the threesome. While writing this essay, pretty UH-MAY-ZING casting news surfaced: Viggo Mortensen (um, YESSSS) and Amy Adams are joining the cast for On the Road! Talk about high calibre projects!! Kristen has been attached to filming OTR for a couple years now, and I can only imagine how excited and thrilled she is with the way this film is shaping up. I personally feel this film has the makings of legend, much like the book on which it is based. Ok..but anyhoo, we know what Kristen is doing, and it is so much greater than anything I can claim to have done. But with Kristen out of the spotlight, and Rob waving goodbye to the WFE set yesterday, what can we Muse about, lovelies? mmm. lemmmeee think…lemme think….

Helllooo, Garrett. Road tripping with you will NOT be a problem.

Return of the King indeed, Mr Mortensen

Idle hands make…

Well, some folks have certainly found new topics to muse about…In these brief moments where Kristen has been out of the limelight, bewildering events have occurred amongst the fandom. The Not-A-Fans and the Disturbingly Focused folks managed to assist in the creation then subsequent spreading of false stories about Kristen, and Kristen herself is not available to clarify. Plus, absence leaves lots of room for elaboration by the especially creative storytellers. Sadly, those are the tamer actions of the idle and the bored. The most distressing actions I’ve witnessed above all, happened within these past two days.

Some “fans” were quite busy offering distractions in the form of petty tweet-wars; libelous, vile photo manipulations; side-choosing in arguments that they created regarding whether they know more private information about Kristen and Rob than other people. This same information that Kristen and Rob themselves have worked so excruciatingly hard to keep private.

I won’t spend more than a moment thinking too hard about it all, because I havemore fulfilling Musings to entertain, but out of a mental health professional’s curiosity, I ask:

WHAT’S UP WITH THAT?

People who refer to themselves as “fans”, but whom are also engaged in this harmful, hurtful behavior towards both Kristen and Rob and their supporters:

Are you unhappy?

Is it anxiety, boredom, or a shattered spirit? Needing a power boost? Do you simply stir the pot while your favorite target is indisposed, because you need something to do?

The arrows will only go away…

When I cause trouble with KStew and Rob fans.

The arrows will only go away….

If I draw their chaos elsewhere…

Dr Glenn R Shiraldi is an author, Pentagon faculty member and university professor, with an expertise in stress management and self esteem. It is from his work The Self Esteem Workbook from which I draw some of my thoughts about the harmful self-proclaimed “fans”. Per Dr Shiraldi and Coopersmith, People with efficient self-esteem tend to be healthier, friendlier, more expressive, more active, more self-trusting, trusting of others, and holding little to NO hostility. Makes sense. Essentially, the more assured and grounded one is in her own decisions and beliefs, the less likely she is to harbor distrust and hostility. So could this be a key contributing factor to the hate and need for destruction that some of these Vultures, Not-a-Fans and BullShit People feel towards a young woman and a young man who just happen to be public figures?A great absence of security and conviction in self? Perhaps. In my years of providing therapy as well as receiving it, I did learn one significant concept:

It is impossible to obtain true inner strength and confidence when one is searching outside the self for it. Moreover, it’s a disservice to everyone when malicious intentions are injected into the Great Wide Open. Why tempt the Omnipresent Consequence??

Uh, Me? Meet Confidence.

Basically it means all the energy poured into role-playing MEAN GIRLS by creating high school hierarchies within this supposedly “supportive” community, detracts from the energy in supporting betterment of humanity and oneself… It also detracts from enjoying the gifts of a precocious woman and a soulful man that are the most unique, intelligent and atypical talents we’ve had the pleasure of observing in many, many years. Which is truly too bad.

TIME’S. UP.

I’m done giving any more of today’s Musings to the contemplation of motivation behind unprovoked attacks on our Royal Rebels. I transition out of this convo by saying: Dear idle, bored, and anxious folks out there, let us please commence with remembering why Kristen is our Other Queen, and celebrate all her Offenses of Otherness that are blueprints for accessing our own Majestic Misfit-ness.

Kristen looks in a mirror every single day.

Do you?

The Beauty that Kristen brings

So I say, as I have from day one, instead of focusing on any absence or perceived shortcoming of our Reigning Other Queen, let’s focus on the beauty and goodness that has enhanced our lives as a result of being a Kristen Stewart supporter. My world Pre-KStew Discovery was lovely, entertaining and exciting, sure. But my world Post-KStew Discovery is just more. In the past two years that I’ve been on the Twilight and Team Kristen rollercoaster, I have been infinitely blessed. As I wrote last week, my appreciation of Rob and Kristen ultimately brought me to the creation of Musings, therefore, you Beatific Rabble Rousers. Since discovering and becoming a supporter of Kristen Jaymes Stewart, I have met the nicest, kindest most passionate people from all corners of the world. I mean, I’m a traveler, and have been to a few pretty exotic places, but it wasn’t until joining Team Kristen and Team Other, that I’ve truly met the most gifted and beautiful people in the world. I speak on a daily basis with some of my Cyber Sisters and Readers, more than I speak to my own family, outside of my husband. I read FAN FICTION! The glorious, smutty, brilliant creations of daydream believers and warrior poets. I exchange late-night texts and tweets with my fellow fiction addicts while we sob into the last tissues in the house, and nibble on Toblerone chocolate while discussing the virtues and complications of Mob Life.

Dear: EP, I don’t know how, I don’t know when it became so.

But you OWN me. That is all. Love, Me.

Since creating and Musings and spearheading the campaign to defend my fellow Others like you, Kristen, Rob, and this week’s featured Rebel, Ryan Gosling, I see brilliant moments of “Other” everywhere. Opportunities to take the atypical path, make an unconventional decision, take a chance on idea I wouldn’t always. When I was out to dinner one night with Kathryn, My Welsh beauty and “Manager”, our waitress put her two hands behind her back and said to us, “Pick one. Odd? Or Even?”

Can you guess which one I picked? The waitress handed me some lovely candy and my silver setting for the evening. And we ended up having an soulful conversation about pursuing the art of Creative Living. But you know what? When given the choice, I will always, always, choose “ODD”.

Odd has never looked sooo sooo right.

I have almost daily, conversations with soul mates and kindreds. This was a conversation that Cynically Convivial of KStew Is Better Than You I had a while back. It went something like this:

Me: I feel like I have so much to learn each day. Each day brings me something new. I love it.

CC: I love to learn. I love words. I love books. My dad always tells us that if you didn’t learn ONE thing by the end of the day then you’ve failed as a citizen of the world.

Me: Oh I love that. I move through each day with a similar guiding energy.

CC: One of my dad’s favorite quotes, by W. Markiewicz is: “Its better to be an authentic loser than a false success, and to die alive than to die dead.” It’s how I became obsessed with the phrase “Own It”. I know what my flaws are. I know everything that’s wrong with me, and I own it.

Me: Much like our girl Kristen. You, my lovely, are a Rebel Queen as well.

CC: Kristen appreciates authenticity and different-ness. I appreciate her unwillingness to concede.

Then I write stuff like this in the sand in Kauai.

Let’s continue to build our Rebel Army, as we began a couple months ago with the first-ever Musings, shall we?

Featured Royal Rebel: Ryan Gosling

This soulful, soft-spoken, unassuming man was born and raised in London, Ontario, Canada. Having no formal performance training, Ryan found himself snagging the spot in The New Mickey Mouse Club alongside fellow Mouseketeers Justin Timberlake, Keri Russell, and Christina Aguilera. Okay, maybe you don’t recognize him from his awe-inspiring singing and dancing with the MMC (or maybe you do?), but you probably do recognize him here:

He garnered critical acclaim for his work in films such as Murder By Numbers (a role in which he played a teen aged murderer) and The Believer in which he played a Jewish Neo-Nazi before he landed the role as Noah in his most mainstream movie to date, The Notebook. His propensity for choosing unusual, broken and imperfect (Other) characters in smaller independent films before choosing to work in a well-known film is a very similar trajectory as our Reigning Other Queen Kristen. According to Internet Movie Database, Ryan was a victim of teasing and bullying when in grammar school, and was relegated to home schooling until he was 16 years old and his family moved to Los Angeles, CA. In California, his high school nickname, appropriately so, was: “Trouble”. He dropped out of high school at age 17, and went to New Zealand to work on the TV show Young Hercules.

A gifted guitarist and singer in his band Dead Man’s Bones, Ryan has quietly but steadily gained admirers in colleagues and industry critics alike. Our own Poet Warrior Rob Pattinson includes himself among Ryan’s fans. He was nominated for an Academy Award and became the recipient of the Independent Spirit Award for his work in Half-Nelson, in which he played a heroin-addicted high school teacher. He received critical and public praise for his role as Lars in my personal favorite Gosling film: Lars and the Real Girl, in which he portrays a socially awkward and painfully shy man who claims a blow up doll as his girlfriend. He is compelling and gently surprising in his contrasting roles: a self-proclaimed traveler and lover of solitude. He is both the advocate for freedom of Darfur refugees under the reign of a murderous army; and, a partner in a Beverly Hills restaurant serving Moroccan food. He walks the line of appearing in small independent Indie films as well as big-budgeted Hollywood productions. In a move I find magical, he chose at one point to live alone in a south central Los Angeles apartment because he felt “closest to real people” there, and because the Vulture-Papz would not seek him out.

Reigning Other Queen: Kristen Stewart

Our reigning Ambassador of Other has a drive and dedication that is both bewildering and impressive. Her colleagues and past cohorts have expressed concern for Kristen’s health, as she completely embodies the characters she portrays. Because she “cannot project feelings she herself does not possess”, New Moon director Chris Weitz says, “I have found myself concerned for her at moments”. She quite infamously carries a spot-on “bullshit detector” and can identify false friends and inauthentic souls immediately. This translates into her ability to run through scenes with several pages of dialogue, and finding the one moment in which it rings untrue. Catherine Hardwicke, Twilight director laughs, “There was quite a bit of rewriting on set. Kristen will not say any dialogue that she cannot respect”.

Offenses of Otherness:

*Self Assured and confident in self*Refuses to downplay her intelligence*Only accepts projects she wholly believes in“Nobody cares more than I do”

Offensive Together

Instead of letting fissures and fractures deter or define our community, I say we choose “odd” and seek reminder of all the common characteristics we actually share with our Rebel Royals, our Hellcat Misfits. Because I observed and then wrote about, to finally internalize so many of Kristen’s “Beauty Marks” and “Offenses of Otherness”, there is no way in hell I’m going to discard the valuable lessons now. Kristen and Rob, and Ryan, all our Ambassadors are moving forward, living their own lives, embracing and representing Other. We should be doing the same. And with all the blessings that supporting Team Other has brought me, why would I ever dwell on any negativities? Its ALL good here.

Because I will always choose the unconventional path, and feel compelled towards “Odd”, I am a Royal Rebel.

Because he gracefully and consistently embodies several contradicting roles, Ryan is an Ambassador of Other.

Because she will never speak a word–whether in-role or in every day life–that does NOT resonate with her personal truth, Kristen is our Reigning Other Queen.

I am Other.

Ryan is Other.

Kristen is Other.

Others will not search outside themselves,

for confidence that resides within.

Embrace your Other.

Question: How has being on Team Kristen blessed you?

A/N: How is GrooveShark working out for you, my lovelies? If the music is important to you, and you’re struggling with the mechanics of the widget, let me know, ok? Just like you let me know when the comment sections fucking up the flow.

Birthday wishes to my girls: @Randommama who was not feeling well AT. ALL for weeks, and she couldn’t really celebrate her own day. Happy Birthday, my Sister. To Iris: @Just2CUSmile and Amy @EvaLola80, I love you girls and even though we’ve distance between us, you are close always. Happy Birthday.

To my CyberSisters/Readers: You give me energy, inspiration, passion and guidance, and this is just when talking about FOOD! Your support of Musings and Team Other transcends and you school me every day in daily blessings.

Buff_82. You bring so much pretty. I need your address. Seriously. Bellasmummy86, kisses and gropes. Kindred. And to my soul sisters, and reasons for me to be BETTER: Bouffant and CynicallyConvy, NONE of this is possible without you. I wouldn’t even know how to begin if you weren’t holding my hands.